Enclosed variable-speed device



Oct. 21, 1941. c. E. JOHNSON ETAL ENCLOSED VARIABLE-SPEED DEVICE v Filed July 6, 1935 Sheets-Sheet 1 6d we 64 u? 6 66 -36 A36 43 A54 \3/ A? 60 O 0 -22 6d 6 ,5 I do 7 a 1 dd 4/ 47 4 e a v r-+--r 7/ 6 6/ 64 6 {7O /4 A? we r k?) l O 4 t /6 h 1 I33 I; A35 A M5 f/Vl/E/V Toes CARL Edomwswv #0 4 RL ML'NDE/VHALL 24 cal M TTORNEY.

'c. E. JOHNSON ET AL ENCLOSED VARIABLE-SPEED DEVICE 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 6 1935 [/v ve/v TOR6 CARL EA/OH/VGON EARL ME/VOENHALL A TTORNE).

1944- c. E. JOHNSON ETAL ENCLOSED VARIABLE-SPEED DEVICE Filed July 6, 1955 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 L NL mwm my wM M N [ML AR m.

A r TORNEK 21, 1941. c. E. JOHNSON ET AL 2,259,567

ENCLOSED VARIABLE- SPEED DEVICE Filed July 6, 1935 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 ass INVENTORJ (ARI. E. doH/vso/v EARL MENDENHALL A rroa/vgy Patented Oct. 21, 1941 ENCLOSED VARIABLE-SPEED DEVICE Carl E. Johnson, Pasadena, and Earl Mendenhall,

Los Angeles, Calif., assignors to Sterling Electric Motors, Inc., Los Angeles, Calif., a corporation of California v Application July 6, 1935, Serial No. 30,112

11 Claims.

This application is a continuation-in-part of our application, Serial No. 677,863, entitled Variable-speed unit, filed June 27, 1933.

Our invention relates to the transmission art, and more particularly to a variable-speed transmission system utilizing one or more variablediameter pulleys of the V-type.

In practice it has been found that the ordinary type of variable-speed transmission unit utilizing variable-diameter pulleys has a very limited range of convenient applications, dueto the fact that it is built with two or more fixed legs which are adapted to be bolted to a supporting means. Such a unit is generally provided with legs so that it will normally be positioned with its housing substantially parallel to a horizontal supporting floor or-platform, and if limited space requirementsnecessitate placing the housing in an upright or other position relative to the supporting means, additional brackets and auxiliary supports are required. Frequently a machine to be driven is placed a considerable distance from any factory. It has been the custom in the trad to specially engineer each installation of such a variable-speed unit so as to provide adequate supporting means, and once such a unit is installed it is frequently inconvenient or impossible to change its use without extensive structural changes in the supporting means. It is a primary object of our invention to obviate these disadvantages by providing a supporting means for a variable-speed unit which can be readily adapted to support the unit in substantially any desired position relative to a machine to be driven.

It is a further object of ourinvention toprovide an enclosed variable-speed unit having a housing, bearings mounted in the housing and adapted to journal and support a shaft having a variable-diameter pulley thereon, and an opening in the housing opposite the bearings and normally closed by a cover through which the shaft can be removed. By such a construction, all of the rotational stresses and strains of the pulley are carried directly by the housing through the supporting bearings, there being no strains on the opening cover, and consequently a stronger and more rigid construction is obtained. A further important advantage derived from this construction lies in the fact that the shaft may be removed through the opening in the housing without disturbing or dismantling the supporting bearing structure which is fixed in the housing opposite the opening.

.finother object of our invention is to provide a variable-speedunit l i'avingtwo variable-diameter pulley adjustmentmeans provided with thrust bearings which are substantially self-aligning, so as to insure correct and. efficient operation of the device. We prefer to accomplish this by floating each of the adjustment means bearings on a ball and socket support which will permit them to self-align during operation.

In most variable-speed units using a resilient belt to connect two variable-diameter pulleys, belt stretch caused by wear is a serious difficulty, since in the ordinary unit the belt must be removed from the-unit and shortened to compensate for the lengthenin caused by wear. It is an object of our invention to provide mechanism in such a unit whereby beltstretch may b compensated for without removing the belt from the unit.

In the adjustment means of our invention, which is designed to vary the effective diameter of the variable-diameter pulley, bearings are provided, preferably of the ball-bearing type, which communicate the thrust of the adjustment means to the pulley flanges, and it is another object of our invention to provide an adjustable stop mechanism for preventing overloading of these bearings by the adjustment means.

In variable-diameter pulley units having a pair of flanges which are relatively axially movable to vary the efiective diameter of the pulley, considerable difliculty is experienced in operation in the pulley flanges sticking or jamming, no suitable lubrication system for such a unit having been heretofore designed. Accordingly, it is an other object of our invention to provide a lubrication system for a variable-diameter pulley which will insure that the pulley flanges may be moved axially during rotation of the pulley. To accomplish this, we prefer to provide a surplus oil or grease reservoir inside the shaft on which the pulley is carried, communicating with the exterior of the pulley housing, so that lubricant can be forced into the reservoir during rotation of the pulley, and communicating with the sliding surfaces in the pulley mechanism so that the lubricant may be forced between such sliding surfaces by centrifugal force due to rotation of the pulley, or by other means.

In a variable-speed unit such as described above, the adjustment means for varying the effective' diameter of the variable-diameter pulley is usually provided with ball or roller bearings .pulley, and breakage of parts results.

to make it asfree-running as possible to prevent jamming or sticking of the pulley flanges. In practice it is usual to set the unit for a desired speed for some time, and due to the free-running bearings provided in the adjustment means, it is often diificult to maintain a desired adjustment and speed ratio, since the adjustment means has a tendency to creep during operation. Therefore, it is another object of our invention to supply such'a unit with mechanism to maintain a desired adjustment, which we prefere to do by including a friction element in the control mechanism to prevent movement thereof during ordinaryoperation of the device.

A still further object of our invention is to supply a variable-speed unit as described above with a control mechanism which will prevent pinching of the belt between'the flanges of the variable-diameter pulley when the pulley is not 7 rotating. With the standard form of variablespeed. unit; unskilled operators frequently attempt to change the effective diameter of the variable-diameter pulley when the device is not in operation, which'often'results in the belt becoming'pinched or wedged betweenthe pulley flanges, so that when operation of the device is commenced the belt will not ride free on the This feature of ourinvention is designed to overcome this difllculty of operation, and is accomplished in its preferred form by providing a friction clutch mechanism in connection with the control device.

Another object of our invention is ,to provide openings in the housing of an enclosed variablespeed unit sufliciently large so that each of the pulley shafts and pulleys associated therewith may beinserted in or withdrawn from the housing in completely assembled relation without disturbing or dismantling the bearings for the shafts. Such a construction greatly facilitates assembly of the unit, since the pulleys may be assembled on their respective shafts outside the housing, and the shafts carrying the pulleys may then be inserted directly into the housing'through the openings. Conversely, it facilitates repairs on thepulleys or shafts or replacement thereof, since they can readily be taken out of the housing.

In variable-speed units it is often desirable to have a wide speed change relation between the variable-diameter pulleys of the device, and it is accordingly another object of our invention to .provide such a unit in which the pulleys are readily removable or interchangeable with pulleys of different sizes;

A still further object of our invention is to supply a variable-diameter pulley having two flange members, one of which is flxed to a drive shaft and the other of which is axially movable on the drive shaft, the movable flange member being keyed to the fixed flange member by a key on the movable flange member adapted to fit into a keyway in the fixed flange member, which keyway extends between the flanges. The advantage of such a construction lies in the fact that if the belt is allowed to move into contact with the shaft or hub on which the flanges are carried, it will not be damaged by a projecting key on the hub.

Another object of our invention is to provide the rod, there being means for rotating the rod from a position external to the housing, and the rod being readily interchangeable from a position adjacent one side of the housing to a position adjacent the other side of the housing. This feature isof' particular utility in installations where it is desirable to have the control means on a particular side of the housing.

Still another object of our invention is to supply such a variable-speed unit with an indicating means for indicating on the exterior of the housing the relative speed ratio between the drive and driven shafts of the device. We prefer to operate such indicating means from the control rod of the device, and accordingly it is also an object of the invention to make the indicating means readily interchangeable from one side of the housing to the other with the control rod.

It is also an object of the invention to provide indicating means including a plate having a scale thereon and a pointer registering with the scale, the plate and pointer being adapted to be fixed in any one of a plurality of available positions relative to the transmission housing, so that regardless of the position of the housing the plate and scale may be conveniently accessible to the operator.

Another object of our invention is to provide a gear reduction unit in combination with a variable-speed device as described above which can be supported in a'variety of positions.

A further object of our invention is to supply I a variable-speed unit as described with a relatively small drive pulley and a relatively large driven pulley, so that when the drive pulley is adjusted to its maximum diameter and the driven pulley is adjusted to its minimum diameter, substantially a one-to-one ratio will exist between the pulleys, together with mechanism for varying therate of change of the effective diameters of the pulleys at different rates to compensate for the difference in size of the two pulleys and to provide a greater speed variation between the pulleys than would otherwise be possible.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a lubricating attachment for an enclosed variable-speed pulley transmission, which may be positioned in any one of a plurality of positions relative to the transmission housing to insure accessibility thereto regardless of the position of the housing.

Other objects and advantages of our invention reside in the particular structures disclosed, as well as in the general combinations, which will be evident from the following description and claims.

Referring to the drawings, which are for the purpose of illustration only:

Fig. 1 is a plan view, partially in section, of one embodiment of our invention.

Fig. 2 is an elevational .view of the embodiment shown in Fig. l, slightly decreased in size.

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic view of the form shown in Fig. l, with the driven shaft extending vertically upward.

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic view of the form shown in Fig. l, with the driven shaft extending vertically downward.

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic view of the positioning of the device shown in Fig. 3, with a double support.

' ing means of the invention.

7 is an enlarged elevational view of Fig. 6. Fig. 8 is an end view of Fig. 6, showing the indicating means on the housing and the control means of the device.

Fig. 9 is an end view of the unit shown in Fig. 1, with a reduction gear unit added.

Fig. 10 is a diagrammatic view of the device shown in Fig. 9, showing an alternative form of support.

Fig. 11 is a sectionalplan view of an alternative embodiment of our invention.

Fig. 12 is a sectional elevational view, taken on the line l2--l2 of Fig. 11, slightly decreased in size.

Fig. 13 is a sectional view taken on the line l3--I3 of Fig. 12. V I v Fig. 14 is an enlarged view, partly in section, of the control rod shown in Fig. 13.

Fig. 15 is an enlarged perspective view of the friction ring shown in Fig. 14.

Fig. 16 is an alternative embodiment of our invention.

Figs. 17 and 17a are diagrammatic sectional views of the pulleys of our invention.

and the inner bearing 33 is retained on a cylinbe driven (not shown) into the transmission 7 housing 10. It is to be noted'that the shaft 35 is wholly supported by the bearing means 30, and

I that the bearing means receives all of the rota- Fig, 18 is a sectional view of an alternative form of pulley means.

Referring to Figs.' 1 to 8, we show one form of our invention in which the chief structural units of our device are generally designated for convenience as follows: a transmission housing I II; an electric motor bearing means a variable-diameter drive pulley means 40; a variable-diameter driven pulley means 50; drive pulley adjustment means 60; driven pulley adjustment means 10; control means 80; indicating means H0; and supporting means I30. It is to be understood that this enumeration is merely for convenience in description, andw'e do not intend to be limited thereby in any way to the general structural units so designated or combinations of such units.

The transmission housing If) is provided with sides and I2 having openings I3 and I4 therein respectively which are adapted to be closed by bell-shaped covers 15 and I6 secured to the sides of the housing by suitable bolts or other fastening means. The housing I!) also has ends I! and I8, and has a top H? and a bottom 20, there being rectangular openings 2| and 22 'in the top and bottom respectively, adapted to be closed by cover plates 23 and 24 suitably secured to the housing. The cover plates 23 and 24 are interchangeable for a purpose to be described hereinafter in connection with the indicating means H0 of our invention. v

As best shown in Fig. 1, the electric motor 25 is of the standard type, preferably a high speed motor, having the usual type of motor shaft bearings 26 journalling a drive shaft 21 which extends into the transmission housing ID, the motor being secured to the housing by any appropriate means such as bolts 28. The motor is normally fixed rigidly to the housing I0 and provides bearing means substantially fixed relative to the housing; or, if desired, the motor. housing may be made integral with the transmission housing without departing from the spirit of our invention, I

The bearing means 30 is provided in the transmission housing ID opposite the opening [4, and preferably integral with the housing, being formedin an extending bell 3| formed on the side ll of the housing. Thebearing means 30 is comprised of an outer bearing 32 and an inner bearing 33, both of the bearings preferably being of the ball type having outer and inner races. The outer bearing 32 is retained in the bell 3|,

tional stresses and strains of the shaft 35, which is an important feature of our invention.

The variable-diameter drive pulley means 40 is carried on the drive shaft 21 of the motor 25 and is of the variable-diameter V-type having a fixed flange member 4| and an axially movable flange member 42. The fixed flange 4| is formed on a hub 43 which is suitably fixed rigid on the drive shaft 21, and the hub is provided with .a keyway 44 extending the length thereof. Journalled on the hub 43 is a sleeve 45 to which the movable flange member 42 is fixed by appropriate means, and the sleeve carriesa key 46 which projects into the keyway 44 in the hub to permit relative axial movement of the hub and sleeve but causing the hub and sleeve to rotate in unison with the drive shaft 21. Axial-movement of the sleeve 42 relative to the hub 43 will cause a corresponding movement'of the movable flange 42 relative to the fixed flange 4i, and since the pulley means 40 is adapted to receive a resilient V-belt means '41 having a uniform width,'such movement of the movable flange will vary the effective diameter of the pulley means, causing the belt to move on the. flange members toward or away from the hub. The hub 53 and the end of the drive shaft 21 define a lubricant reservoir 48, the function of which will be described hereinafter. The outer end of the sleeve; .45 is adaptedto retain the outer race of a bearing 49 which is fixed thereto by suitable snap rings and which 'is'preferably of the ball-bearing type. n

The variable-diameter driven: pulley means 50 is carried onthe driven shaft 35 and is substantially similar to the pulley means 40 described in detail above, being of the variable-diameter V-type having a fixed flange 5l' and an axially movable flange 52 which may be moved axially relative to the fixed flange as described in connection with the pulley means 40. v '[t is to be noted, however, that the driven pulley" 50 has a diameter considerably greater than the diameter of the drive pulley 40, the pulleys being proportioned so that when the drive pulley is adjusted to its maximum effective diameter and the driven pulley is adjusted to its minimum effective diameter, a substantially one-to-one gear ratio will exist between the pulleys. It is also clear from the drawings that a pulley of=substantially the same size as the'drive pulley 40 may be substituted for'the driven pulley 50 on the driven shaft 35, to provide a pulley system in which the drivenpulley may be rotated at a higher speed than the drive pulley.

The drive pulley adjustment means 60 is provided for varying the effective diameter of the rotation of the spider 63 and the riding element 62. When the riding element 62 is rotated in a clockwise direction, the internal threads of the riding element will cooperate with the external threads on the rod 6| to cause the riding element to travel inwardly on the rod, and, conversely, a counterclockwise rotation of the, riding element will cause it to travel outwardly on the rod. Any axial movement of the riding element is transmitted through the bearings 49 and the sleeve 45 to move the movable flange 42 axially relative to the fixed flange 4| to vary the effective diameter of the pulley 40. Outward move ment of the spider 63 and riding element 62 is limited by an adjustable set screw 66 in the cover I5 which engages the spider, and inward movement of the riding element is limited by a lock nut 61 threaded on the inner end of the rod 6| which engages the riding element as it travels inwardly on the rod. vThe set screw 68 and the lock nut 61 may be adjusteti as desired so as to limit theaxial movement of the riding element 62, and constitute an adjustable stop means for preventing the bearing 49 from being overloaded by thrust transmitted by the riding element, which isan important feature of our invention.

A pin 68 is-carried in the outer end of the rod SI and has a central passage 68a communicating longitudinal passage 59 in the rod. The passage 69 communicates with the lubricant reservoir 48, and lubricant, such as oil or grease, may be forced through'the passages 68a and 69 into the reservoir, from whence it will work out between the engaging surfacesof the hub 43. and sleeve 45 and into the bearing 49 to lubricate the engaging movable parts. The pin 58 also locks the rod 6| relative to the cover l5. This feature of the invention provides means for lubricating the pulley means 40 and the adjustment means 68 while the pulley is rotating, and from a point external to the housing III. The cover plate I5 is fastened to the housing by bolts l5a, and may be secured thereto in any one of a plurality of positions so as to provide the extending pin.68 in any position'de'sired, which feature is important when the housing is mounted in upright position as described hereinafter.

The driven pulley adjustment means 18 is substantially like the drive pulley adjustment means 60 described above and is operative to move the movable flange 5 2 of the driven pulley 50 axially relative to the fixed flange 5| to vary the efiective diameter of the driven pulley. A sprocket II and a riding element Ila areprovided on the I adjustment means I and are similar to like parts in the adjustment means 68.

It is to be noted that the openings l3 and I4 in the housing H] are sufficiently large to permit the drive pulley 48 and the driven pulley 50 to be removed from the housing through their respective openings when the covers l5 and I6 are loosened, without removing or disturbing the drive shaft 21 or the driven shaft 35, or the .with the exterior of the housing Ill and with a the adjustment means 60 and 10 from the exterior of the transmission housing H), as shown in detail in Figs. 6, '7, and 8, and includes a control rod 8| normally journalled in a bearing 82 in the side ll of the housing, the bearing being formedadjacent the top l9 thereof. Sprockets 83 and 84 are suitably fixed to the control rod 8! in operative alignment with the sprockets 65 and II respectively on the adjustment means 60 and 10, being operatively connected therewith by chains 15 and 16. An externally threaded sleeve 8'! detachably fixed on the control rod 8| by a set screw is normally threadedly received in an opening 88 in the side l2 of the housing. A collar 89 is also detachably fixed to the control rod 8| by a set screw and has an annular shoulder 90 adapted to engage a friction washer 9! formed of Bakelite or other appropriate material, the washer also engaging the hub of a hand wheel 92 which floats on the control rod. The hand wheel 92 is held in frictional engagement with the washer 9| by a spring washer 93 held thereagainst by a head element 94 suitably secured to the control rod H. This construction permits the hand wheel 92, and its accompanying clutch and friction structure, to be fixed to either end of the control rod 8| as desired.

' During the normal operation of the device, rotation of the hand wheel 92 will cause a corresponding rotation of the rod 8i, but if the pulley mechanism or adjustment means becomes jammed or sticks for any reason so as to increase the force moment necessary to rotate the control 'rod, the friction clutch mechanism will cause the hand Wheel to slip relative to the control rod, thus preventing rotation of the rod and possible consequent damage to the parts of the pulley structures. Another advantage of the control means lies in the factthat the control rod 81 can only-be rotated when the transmission is in operation. Unskilled operators frequently attempt to change the pulley ratios in the ordinary type'of variable-speed transmission when the device is not operating, with a consequent pinching of the belt between the flanges of one of the variable-diameter pulleys, so that when the device is started, the belt will not ride free on the pulleys, and breakage of parts results. In our invention, the application of an additional force moment on the control wheel 92 suflicient to cause such pinching of the belt will cause the wheel to slip relative to the control rod 8|, thus preventing actuation of the adjustment means 60 or 10 when the pulleys) and 50 are not rotating.

When the hand wheel 92 is rotated during normal operation of the device, the external threads on the sleeve 81 will cooperate with the internally threaded opening 88 in the housing ill to cause the control rod to move axially, and the threads are so formed that the amount of movement of the control rod will be equal to the movement of the sprockets 65 and H of the adjustment means 60 and 10, so as to maintain the sprockets on the control rod in alignment with the sprockets on the adjustment means.

A bearing 300 similar to the bearing 82 and a threaded opening 38! similar to the opening 88 are. also provided in the sides II and I2 of the housing In near the bottom 20 thereof, and are substantially the same .distance from the drive and driven shafts 2'! and 35 as the openings adjacent the top IQ of the housing described above. It is frequently desirable to have the hand wheel 92 of the control means 80 adjacent the botton 28 of the housing I0, instead of in the position shown in Fig. 8, and by providing suitable openings therein to receive the control rod 8| and sleeve 87, the control means is readily interchangeable to either of the two positions. Since in either position the control rod is equidistant to the drive and driven shafts .21 and 35, the effective length of the chains I and 'IB'remains the same, and it is necessary only to change the direction of the chains when the rod is moved from one position to the other.

It is commonly known in the art: that when a pair of variable-diameter pulleys having straight faced flanges are used" and the pulleysare. adjusted to the same effective diameters, the path of the belt connecting the pulleys will have a minimum length, and that if the diameter of one pulley is increased by anamount equal to a decrease in the diameter of the other pulley, the belt path will increase in length. This was a serious difficulty in variable-diameter pulley transmissions until the development of resilient belts. By

making the belt 41 of sufficient resiliency, we obviate this difficulty in our device, the resiliency of the belt automatically taking up slack caused by'the change in effective diameters of the pulley means.

making the riding elements 62 and 'IIathreaded at slightly different pitches whereby a complete turn of the riding element 62 will cause a greater relative movement between the flanges 4| and 42 than would result between the flanges 5I and 52 when the riding element 11a isturned through a complete revolution. In the preferred embodiment, however, we prefer to accomplish this.desired movement by means of the chain and sprocket system interconnecting the control rod 8| and the. adjustment means 60 and ID. This may be done'by suitably designing the number of teeth on the sprockets 85 and 83 with respect to the number ofteeth ontliesprockets II fand 84. In the form shownjthesprocket 83' is slightly larger than, the sprocket 184', soithat. the'adjust ment means 60' will moved a greater. degree than the adjustment means lll to permit the drive pulley 40 to be adjusted to the minimumefl'ective diameter shown in, Fig. l and diagrammatically illustrated by the numeralfllin'l ig. 17.

The indicating means 'IIIlfis} shown indetail in, Figs. 6, 7, and 8, and is provided to. indicate on the exterior of the housingithe relativfi ear ratiobetween the pulleys 4 0 and 50., ,Anindicator plate III is fixed to the coverlplate 2 3 ameter and the driven pulley 50 is adjusted to minimum effective diameter. It will be seen that adjustment of the drive pulley 48 to its maxi- .mum effective diameter 95 limits the minimum effective diameter 96 to which the driven pulley 50 may be adjusted. The numerals 91 and 98 indicate the position of the belt 41 in the flanges of the pulleys when the driven pulley 50 is adjusted to its maximum effective diameter and the drive pulley 49 is adjusted to its minimum effective diameter.

If movable flanges of the pulleys 40 and were moved at the same rate, the

minimum effective diameter of the drive pulley 40 so as to obtain a greater gear ratio between the pulleys, and we accomplish this by moving the movable flange of the drive pulley at a faster rate than the movable flange of the driven pulley 50. By'so moving the movable flange of the drive pulley, the maximum change in center distance 100 between the flanges of the drive pulley is substantially greater than the maximum change in center distance IIlI between the flanges of the driven pulley 58, and the belt moves inwardly on the drive pulley from the position 95 to the position '91, and outward on the driven pulley from the position 96 to the position 98, There are several ways in which this operation can be acby suitable means such as screws] I 2, and hasa scale I I3 lmprintedor otherwise flxed thereon:

The screws I II are so positioned that the indicator'plate III maybe fixed in 'any onejof four positions relative to the cover plate 2 3 for a purpose to be described below. Ex ending through the cover plate 23 and the indicator plate I I I is a threaded stub shaft I I4 threadedly receiving on its outer end a pointer II5. adapted toregister with the scale I'I3, and havingthreadedlyflxed on its inner end a leverelementIIIi connected through a pivot I H to an actuating arm I I8. The

actuating arm II8has a yoke II9 thereon which is adapted to ride on the control rod 8I in engagement with the sprocket element 84, A coil spring I20 is connected between a pin I2I on the cover plate 23 and the lever H6, and resiliently maintains the yoke H9 in engagement with the sprocket 84. When the control rod is rotated so as to move axially in the direction of the arrow I22, the sprocket 84 forces the yoke H9 and the lever I I6 in the same direction to rotate the stub shaft H4 and the pointer I I5 thereon to indicate the amount of axial movement of the control rod, and consequently to indicate the relative axial movement of the pulley flanges of the pulleys 40 and 50. When the control rod BI is moved axially in the opposite direction, the spring I211 causes the yoke II9 to follow in engagement with the sprocket 84, and. the pointer I I5 also moves in the opposite direction over the scale II3. By loosening a lock nut I23 on the threaded stub shaft II4 and slightly unscrewing the shaft from the pointer complished with the apparatus set forth in Figs. I

1 and 8. Thus,.the movable flange 42 of the drive pulley 40 can be moved faster'than the movable flange 52 of the driven pulley 50 by I I 5 and the lever I I6, the pointer may be rotated and fixed in any desired position on the shaft, so that if the indicator plate is reversed through or other angle, the pointer may still be made to register with the scale II3, which may be de- .the cover plates 23 and 24 so as to provide the indicating means III) onthe bottom of the housing, and thissis another useful feature of our invention.

The supporting means I38, as best shown in Figs. 1 and 2, includes a pair oi ring plates I i and I02, having central openings I00 and I therein respectively, and ioot members I00 and I00 respectively by which the unit is adapted to be fastened to-a supporting structure. The ring plate I02 fits over the bell-shaped projection.

oi the housing I0 and is iastened to the housing by bolts I21 or other appropriate means, and the ring plate IOI partially closes the opening I 0 in the housing and is similarly connected to the housingby bolts I00. The bolts I01 and I00 are so positioned that the ring plates I02 and Ill may be connected to the housing I0 with the ieet I00 and I00 in any one oi a plurality oi positions relative to the housing, which is an important ieature oi our invention, since this construction permits the transmission unit to be mounted in a desired position relative to a device to be driven without providing a special auxiliary base construction.

The transmission housing I0 may be mounted with the ieet I00 and I00 underneath and the housing in horizontal position, as shown in Fig. 2, or it may be mounted in any oi the positions indicated by dotted lines I00 as desired. Al-

though we provide eight each oi bolts I00 and I01 iastening the ring plates HI and Ill, we do not intend to be limited thereto, since any desired number oi such bolts may be used to provide more or less possible mounting positions without departing irom the spirit oi our invention. It is also to be noted that the ring plates can be mounted with the ieet in any one oi a plurality oi positions so as to accommodate the unit to substantially any type oi supporting mounting, whether the mounting be horizontal, vertical, or disposed at an angle.

It is irequently desirable to provide a reduction gear unit with the variable-speed unit described above, and in Fig. 9 we show such a combination. A transmission unit I00, which is substantially like the unit shown in Figs. 1 and 2, is provided with a reduction gear unit IOI oi a standard type adapted to iurther reduce the speed oi the driven shait oi the transmission unit, the gear unit being connected to the transmission unit by suitable iastening means I00 which take the place oi the usual ring plate I02.

The reduction gear unit I shown in Fig. 0 is oi the so-called double-reduction type, and where such a gear unit is used, only one ring plate I 42 is connected to the transmission housing on the opposite side irom the gear unit, a second ring plate I00 being suitably connected directly to the gear unit.

An alternative iorm oi supporting means is diagrammatically illustrated in Figs. 3, 4. and 5, which has particular utility where it is desirable to support a transmission unit, such as shown in Fig. 1, with the driven shait in vertical position. The supporting means includes a ring plate I00 secured to a transmission housing IOI, similarly to the ring plates shown in Fig. l, and has extending legs I02 connected to or iormed integrally with the ring plate I00 which are preierably rigidly secured to a base plate I00, The base plate I00 is adapted to be suitably secured shait I00 extends downwardly; and in Fig. 0,

similar ring plates I00 are secured to each side of the housing so that the unit may be supported irom either above or below the housing with the drive shaft I00 extending upwardly. Obviously, the housing IOI may be suspended in the positions shown in Figs. 3 and 4 by attaching.the ring plates I00 to the upper side oi the housing without departing irom our invention. It will also be clear that since the ring plates I00 are similar in construction to the ring plates IOI and I02 oi Fig, 1, the housing III may be rotated around the driven shait I00 to any one oi a plurality oi positions similar to the positions shown in Fig. 2 taken on a vertical axis.

In Fig. 10 we diagrammatically illustrate a transmission unit such as shown in Fig. 9, which may be provided with the supporting means described in connection with Fig. 0 to support it with the driven shait in a plurality oi vertical positions as described.

Reierring particularly to Figs. ii to 15, we show an alternative iorm oi transmission unit which is similar in general construction to the unit shown in Fig. l, but diiiers in several details thereoi, and in which the chief structural units are generally designated as ioliows: a transmission housing I00; an electric motor I10; bearing means I00; a variable-diameter drive pulley means I00; a variable-diameter driven pulley means 200; drive pulley adjustment means 2I0; driven pulley adjustment means 220; and control means 200.

The transmission housing I00 has openings III and I02 in one side thereoi which are normally closed by bell covers I00 and I00 fixed to the housing, and has openings I00 and I00 in the to a supporting mounting, such asa portion oi I the machine to be driven. In the iorm shown in Fig. 3, the ring plate I00 is secured to the housing IOI on the same side as the motor so that the driven shait I00 extends upwardly irom thehousing; in the iorm shown in Fig. 4, the ring 7 plate I00 is secured to the housing IOI .on the opposite side irom the motor so that the driven other side oi the housing which are normally closed by the electric motor I10 and a bell cover I01 respectively. Feet I00 are provided integral with or suitably attached to the housing I00 to support it, and the housing has a covered opening I00=in the top thereoi.

The electric motor I10, the drive pulley means I00, and the drive pulley adjustment means 2I0 are substantially similar to like members in Fig. l, and will not be described in detail. The adjustment means 2 I0, however, has a slightly diiierent construction in that the threaded rod 2 on which its riding element travels is threaded into a cup-shaped element 2I2 which rests in a semi-spherical opening 2I0 in threaded member 2, to provide a ball-and-socket seat iorcreate a lubricating system similar in operation to that described in connection with Fig. l. During operation oi the device, the belt 2" connecting the drive and driven pulleys I 00 and 200 irequently stretches due to wear, and the element 2I0 provides means ior compensating for this beltstretch. When the element 2 is rotated in a clockwise direction, it will travel inwardly, iorcing the adjustment means and consequently the movable flange oi the drive pulley I00 inwardly to increase the ei'iective diameter oi the pulley and thereby take up any slack in the belt.

The opening 2!9 through which the tube 2 !1 extends is elongated to permit the tube to move inwardly with the rod 2!! but preventing rotation of the rod. The ball-and-socket joint formed by the cup-shaped element 2!2 and the member 2 !4 permits the bearings of the adjustment means pulleys cannot be withdrawn from the housing I66 through any of the openings therein without dismantling the device. g

The control means 236 includes a control rod 23! suitably journalled in openings 232 and 233 in the housing !66. The rod 23! has a sprocket 234 fixed thereon operatively connected by means of a chain 235 to the sprocket 2!9a on the adjustment means 2!6, and another sprocket 236 operatively connected by a chain 231 to the sprocket 22! on the adjustment means 226. One end of the rod 23! has an annular groove 238 formed therein adapted to receive the ends of frictionpins 239 carried in openings 246 formed in a hub 24! of a hand wheel 242, the pins preferably being three in numberinset at different points on the circumference of the hub and held in frictional engagement with the groove by an annular snap ring 243 bearing against the outer ends of the pins. A friction washer 244, shown in detail in Fig. 15, is carried on the other end of the rod 23! and is held in engagement against a boss !69a' formed on the housing I66 by a collar 245 secured to the rod by a set screw 246. The hand wheel 242 and accompanying structure provide a friction clutch mechanism similar in operation and objects to that described in connection with Fig. 1, and the friction washer 244 prevents the rod 23! from creeping out of desired adjustment during operation of the transmission unit.

-In Fig. 16 we show an alternative embodiment of our invention which is substantially similar to that shown in Fig. 11 except that the adjustment means and control means are of a slightly different construction from that shown in the preceding figures of the drawings. transmission housing 256 which contains a drive pulley 25! and a driven pulley 252, and to which is connected an electric motor 253a. The drive pulley 25! has an adjustment means 253 which includes a rod 254 suitably fixed in a bell 255 of the housing 256 and carrying a riding element 256 in sliding relation thereon adapted to move axially the movable flange of the drive pulley 25! as described above in connection with the other forms of our invention. Threaded into the outer end of the riding element 256 are pins 251 ,and 258 slidably journalled in openings in the cover 255, and which are securely fastened to a riding plate 259. Pivoted to the riding plate 259 is a link 266 which is pivoted at its outer end to a lever 26!. The lever 26! is also pivotedto a pivot link 262 at a point substantially at the center of the lever, the pivot link 262 being pivotally connected to an arm 263 formed integral with or rigidly secured to the cover 255. The opposite end of the lever 26! is pivoted to a control rod 264 which extends through the housing 256, being journalled therein by'bearings 265 and 266. The opposite end of the rod 264 is pivotally connected to a lever arm 261, which is considerably longer It has a than the lever 26! and has a handle 258 at its outer end. The lever arm 26Tis pivotally connected through a pivot link 268a and a link 269 to the housing 256 and to a riding plate 216 of the adjustment means for the driven pulley 252. respectively. Although the pivot link 268a is pivoted to the lever arm 261 at a point substantially midway between the pivot of the rod 264 and the pivot of the link 269, the distance between such pivots is considerably less than the length of the lever 26!.

When the handle 268 of the lever arm 261 is moved in the direction of the arrow 21!, the lever arm will pivot on the pivot link 268a to drive the riding plate 216 inwardly in the same direction through the cooperation of the link 269, and to pull the control rod 264 in the opposite direction through the housing 256 so as to increase the effective diameter of the driven pulley 252. Such movement of the control rod 264 will cause the lever 26! to pivot on the pivot link 262 to pull the riding plate 259 and its associated riding element 256 outwardly so as to decrease the effective diameter of the drive pulley 25! and thereby to change the gear ratio between the pulleys. Conversely, movement of the handle 268 of the lever arm 261 in a direction opposite to that of the arrow 21! will produce a reverse movement of the riding plates 259 and 216. Due to the different effective lengths of the lever 26! and the lever arm 261, the riding plate 259 will be moved a greater distance than the riding plate 216, thereby providing means for varying the effective diameters of the pulleys at different rates for the same reasons as set forth above relative to-Fig. 1.

In Fig. 18 we show an alternative form of pulley structure which may be substituted for the pulley structure shown in Fig. 1 if desired, and which provides multiple pulleys on both drive and driven shafts.

mitting heavy power loads are required. In the drawings, a drive shaft 286 carries multiple drive pulley means 28!, and a driven shaft 282 carries multiple driven pulley means 283. The drive pulley means 28! has a plurality of fixed flange members 284 formed on hubs 285 and being rigidly fixed to the drive shaft 286 by any suitable means such as set screws 286. A movable flange member 281 is slidably journalled on one of the hubs 285', and a movable flange member 288 having a sleeve 289 is slidably journalled on the drive shaft 286, each of the movable flanges cooperating with each of the opposed fixed flanges 284 to form variable-diameter pulleys of the V-type. The movable flanges 281 and 288 are rigidly connected together by means of one or more rods 266 passing through suitable openings 29! in the intermediate fixed flange 284, and appropriately fixed to the movable flanges. 'A key 292 formed on the sleeve 289 cooperates with a keyway 293 formed in the drive shaft 286 so as to prevent the movable flange members from rotating relative to the drive shaft but permitting axial movement thereof. The sleeve 289 is adapted to be moved axially by an appropriate adjustment means, such as the adjustment means 66 shown in Fig. 1, so as to vary the effective diameters of the pulleys constituting the pulley means 28! simultaneously. The driven pulley means 283 has substantially the same construction as the drive pulley means 28land provides driven pulleys 294 and 295 operatively aligned with the drive pulleys and connected This feature has particular utility where large transmission units capable of transdo not wish to be limited to the specific forms shown because .various substitutions and interchanges of parts will be readily apparent to one skilled inthe art from our disclosure.

We claim as our invention:

1. In a'variable-speed device, the combination of: a shaft; a first pulley flange rigidly mounted on said shaft, said first pulley flange having a tubular hubextending beyond thefend of said shaft toform a lubricant reservoir therein; a second pulley flange mounted on said tubular hub so as to be axially movable thereon, said second pulley flange having a cylindrical hub concentric with and surrounding said tubular hub; and a lubricating element extending through said hubs 'and'into said reservoir, said element having a passage therethrough adapted to convey a lubricant into said lubricant reservoir during rotation of said pulley flanges.

2; In a variablc-speeddevice, the combination of: a shaft; a first pulley flange rigidly mounted on said shaft, said first pulley flange having a tubular hub extending beyond the end of said shaft to form a lubricant reservoir therein; a

secondpulley flange mounted on said tubular hub so as to be axially movable thereon, said second pulley flange having a cylindrical hub concentric with and surrounding said tubular hub; a lubricating element extending through said hubs and into said reservoir, said element having a passage therethrough adapted to convey a lubricantinto said lubricant reservoir during rotation, of saidpulley flanges; an-adjustment means axially movable on said lubricating element and operatively connected to said cylindricalhub to adjust the axial position of said second pulley flange; and means for axiallymoving said adjustment means.

3. In a variable-speed device, the combination of: a shaft; a first pulley flange rigidly mounted on said shaft, said first'pulley flange having a tubular hub extending beyond the end of said shaft to form a lubricant reservoir therein; a

said housing from one side thereof; a first p i ley flange rigidly mounted on said shaft, said first pulley flange having a tubular hub extending beyond the end ofsaid-shaf-t toform a lubricant reservoir therein, a second pulley flange axially movable on said tubular hub; an element extending into said housing and into said lubricant reservoir in axial alignment with said shaft from the opposite side of said housing, said element having a lubricant passage therethrough communicating between said lubricant reservoir and the exterior of saidhousing; adjustment means mounted on said element and operatively connected to said second pulley flange to axially move the same; and means for actuating said adjustment means to move axially said second pulley flange.

5. In a variable-speed device, the combination of an enclosed housing; a shaft extending into said housing from one side thereof; a first pulley flange rigidly mounted on said shaft, said first pulley flange having a tubular hub extending beyond the end of said shaft to form a lubricant reservoir therein; a second pulley .flange axially movable on said tubular hub; an externally threaded element extending into said housing and into said lubricant reservoir in axial alignment with said shaft from the opposite side 1 I of said housing, said element having a lubricant second pulley flange mounted on said tubular hub so as to be axially movable thereon, said second pulley flange having a cylindrical hub concentric with and surrounding said tubular hub; a lubricating element extending through said hubs and into said reservoir, said element having a passage therethrough adapted to convey a lubricant into said lubricant reservoir during rotation of said pulley flanges; an adjustment means axially movable on said lubricating element; thrust bearing means operatively connecting said adjustment means and said cylindrical hub, said lubricant reservoir communicating with said thrust bearing means; and means for axially moving said adjustment means so as to adjust the axial position of said second flange relative to said first flange.

4. In a variable-speed device, the combination of: an enclosed housing; a shaft extending into passage therethrough communicating between said lubricant reservoir and the exterior of said housing; adjustment means threadedly mounted on said elementand operatively connected to said second pulley flange to axially move the same; and means for rotating saidv adjustment means to move it axially so as to adjust the axial position of said second pulley flange.

6. In a variable-speed device, the combination of an enclosed housing; a shaft extending-into said housing from one side thereof; a first pulley flange rigidly mounted on said shaft, said first pulley flange having a tubular hub extending beyond the end of said shaft to form a lubricant reservoir therein; a second pulley flange axially movable on said tubular hub; an externally threaded element extending into said housing and into said lubricant reservoir in axial alignment with said shaft from the opposite side of said housing, said element having a lubricant'passage therethrough communicating between said lubricant reservoir and the exterior of said housing; adjustment means threadedly mounted on said element and operatively connected to said second pulley flange to axially move the same; means for rotating said adjustment means to move it axially-so; as to adjust the axial position of said second pulley flange; and stop means on said element for limiting the movement of said adjust men't'means.

7. In a variable-speed device, the combination of: an enclosed housing; a shaft extending into said housing from one side thereof; a variablediameter pulley of the V-type on said shaft having a pair of flange members one of which is axially movable relative to the other; an externally threaded element extending into said housing from the opposite side thereof in alignment with said shaft; an adjustment member threadedly mounted on said element and operatively connected to said movable flange; and means for rotating said adjustment member to cause it to move axially to adjust the axial position of said movable flange.

8. In a variable-speed device, the combination of: an enclosed housing; a shaft extending into said housing from one side thereof; a variab1ediameter pulley of the V-type on said shaft having a pair of flange members one of which is axially movable relative to the other; an externally threaded element extending into said housing from the opposite side thereof in alignment with said shaft; an adjustment member threadedly mounted on said element; thrust bearing means operatively connecting said member and said movable flange; and means for rotating said adjustment member to cause it to move axially to adjust the axial position of said movable flange.

9. Ina variable-speed device, the combination of: a housing having a first opening therein and a second opening therein, said housing being provided with an engaging face adjacent each of said openings; a drive shaft in said housing; a driven shaft in said housing; a pulley on said drive shaft and a pulley on said driven shaft, one of said pulleys being of the variable-diameter V-type having a pair of flange members one of which is axially movable relative to the other to vary the effective diameter of said pulley; a belt operatively connecting said pulleys; adjustment means. for axially moving said movable flange member to vary the effective diameter of said variable-diameter pulley; indicating means for indicating the relative speed ratio betweensaid pulleys, said indicating means having an engaging plate adapted to engage either of said engaging faces on said housing; means for connecting said engaging plate to either of said engaging faces; and connecting means adapted to operatively connect said indicating means with said adjustment means when said engaging plate is in engagement with either of said engaging faces, so that said indicating means will indicate the relative speed ratio between said pulleys in either position of engagement of said plate.

10. In a variable-speed device, the combination of: a drive shaft; a driven shaft; frame means supporting said shafts; variable-speed transmission mechanism operatively connecting said shafts and adapted to change the speed relation between said shafts; adjustment means associated with said transmission mechanism for actuating the same to change the speed relation betweensaid shafts; a control member; first supporting means associated with said frame means and adapted to support said control member in a first position relative to said transmission mechanism; second supporting means associated with said frame means and adapted to support said control member in a second position relative to said transmission mechanism; connecting means adapted to operatively connect said control member and said adjustment means when said control rod is in either said first or second position; and means for moving said control member, whereby said adjustment means is actuated thereby through said connecting means to change the speed relation between said shafts.

11. In a variable-speed device, the combination of: a housing having a first opening therein and a second opening therein, said housing being provided with an engaging face adjacent each of said openings; a drive shaft in said housing; a driven shaft in said housing; variable-speed transmission mechanism operatively connecting said shafts and adapted to change the speed relation between said shafts; indicating means for indicating the relative speed ratio between said shafts, said indicating means having an engaging plate adapted to engage either of said engaging faces on said housing; means for connecting said engaging plate to either of said engaging faces; adjustment means associated with said transmission mechanism for actuating the same to change the speed relation between said shafts; connecting means adapted to operatively connect said indicating means with said adjustment means when said engaging plate is in engagement with either of said engaging faces so that said indicating means will indicate the relative speed ratio between said pulleys in either position of engagement of said plate.

CARL E. JOHNSON. EARL MENDENHALL. 

